Delays in hospital completion

The new Acute Care Wing will not be completed until mid-September, the Bermuda Hospitals Board announced on Monday.

Acute care services was expected to move to the new unit in June.

But changes in the design of the mechanical and electrical systems have put the project back by 10 weeks.

Following completion there will be three months of preparation, orientation and training activities, after which staff, services and patients can be safely transferred. 

BHB President and CEO Venetta Symonds said that all additional construction costs would be borne by contractors Paget Health Services.

She added: “We understand the delay and had made provisions in our contract with the developers in case this happened. Because we had that foresight, the delay does not represent any additional cost to BHB. 

“We have an excellent relationship with Paget Health Services and, despite this slight delay, great progress has been achieved.

“It is exciting to see the scaffolding coming down to reveal the new facility and last month we very pleased to show the Cabinet how much had been completed inside.”

A spokesperson for Paget Heath Services said: “We are committed to delivering Bermuda Hospitals Board with the first class facility it stipulated and which the Bermuda community deserves.

“We recognise the positive impact the new schedule has on local construction and while we do not anticipate significant further increases in our workforce, we will continue to keep the ratio of Bermudians and spouses of Bermudians at the 60- percent level which we have maintained throughout the construction period.”

The Point Finger Road site is Bermuda’s largest ever construction project and the current daily workforce figures there exceed 500.

BHB Redevelopment Director James Campbell said: “We pay careful attention to ensure the construction is meeting the prescribed international standards. It is our intention to provide the Island with a premiere facility that enables the highest quality of healthcare to be afforded to the community.

“According to the contract, the completion payment and the monthly service payments will not be made to Paget Health Services until the building has been completed to the buildings specifications and to the satisfaction of the project’s independent certifier.

“Paget Health Services also has to maintain the building and the numerous mechanical and electrical systems to set performance criteria until 2044. This gives us great confidence that high quality standards are being adhered to. “